Gaff-topsail rigging



(ModeL) F. B. CORT, Gaff Topsail Rigging.-

No. 234,755. Patented Nov. 23,1880.

INV'ENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES N. PETERS. PHOTGUTHDGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. u c

'ATENT Fries.

FRANK B. CORT, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAFF-TOPSAIL RIGGING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 234,755, dated November 23, 1880.

Application filed August 17, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK B. Goal, of H01- yoke, in the county of Hampdeu and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gaff-Topsail Rigging, of which the following is a specification.

The sheets of gaff-topsails on vessels are led through sheaves at the outer end of the niainsail-gaffis, and it frequently occurs that the sheets part or unbend from the sail and unreeve from the gaff, so that a man must be sent out on the gait to reeve the sheet or the gaff and mainsail lowered to the deck for the same purpose. To lower the gaff, especially if the wind is fresh, involves considerable wear and tear on the sails and rigging, besides loss of time and labor, while the work of passing out on the gaff to reevethe sheet is the most hazardous undertaking required on vessels, as there are no foot-ropes, beckets, or other conveniences to insure safety, and loss of life by men being thrown from the gaff is of frequent occurrence.

My improvements relate to means for reeving gatf-topsail sheets, and have for their object to render such work safe and accomplish it rapidly; and to this end my invention consists in the combination, with the gaff, of an endless rope fitted to run in the throat and end sheaves of the gaff, whereby the top-sail sheet can be rove from the deck or from the throat of the gaff.

1n the accompanying drawings,formin g part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a mainsail-gafi" fitted with the improved rigging, and showing the sheet in the act of being rove. Fig. 2 represents the sheave made use of for the rigging.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the mast, and B the gaff, sustained by halyards a, as usual, and fitted with sheave 1) (Model.)

and block 0 at the outer end and throat, respectively. The sheave b at the outer end of the gaff is grooved, as usual, for the top-sail sheet (I, and is formed with a second narrow groove, 1), for the endless rope c, which passes around the sheaves I) 0, so that the sheet (I may work freely in the sheave without interference with rope e. The block 0 at the throat of the gaff in ay also be provided with a sheave grooved in the same manner, if it is desired to reeve off the sheet from the deck, in which case the endless rope 0 will extend to the deck. The rope c is preferably made of wire.

When it is desired to reeve the sheet d through sheave b the end of the sheet is taken to the gaff-throat, passed through block 0, and secured to the lower side of rope c. Then, by drawing rope c', the end of the sheet is carried to the outer end of the gaff, up through the sheave, and back to the throat, when the end is to be unfastened and bent to the sail. The sheet is thus quickly and readily rove without danger to the men and without lowering the gait. The sheet may also be rove from the deck, if desired.

This device is simple and efficient, and may be applied to a vessel without change in the rigging. Its application is of great advantage for both economical and humanitarian purposes.

Having thus described iny invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As an improvement in gaff-topsail rigging, the endless rope 6, combined with the gaff, having the sheave b and block 0, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

FRANK B. CORT. Witnesses:

R. R. JOHNSON, O. W. JOHNSON. 

